Monday is Presidents Day.
Thought as Washington's Birthday and proposed as a federal holiday by US Congress in 1880, President's Day was established for government offices in D.C. first. Later expanded for all federal offices in 1885 it became the first federal holiday to honor an American citizen. Once celebrated on Washington's actual birthday of February 22 until January 1, 1971 was changed to the third Monday in February by the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. This act's draft was proposed to change the name to President's Day to honor both Lincoln and Washington, but the proposed draft failed and the committee voted and signed into law June 28, 1968 to keep the name Washington's Birthday.
Advertising sales on Washington's Birthday quickly became President's Day and by the mid 1980s the common name of President's Day became common. Never designed to be all inclusive for Presidents but rather to remember Washington and Lincoln.
As we remeber our patriots Monday let's no forget what they stood for.
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